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Martin Birrane

{{short description|Irish racing driver and businessman (1935–2018)}}

{{more citations needed|date=June 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}

File:MartinBirrane1986.jpg

File:Lola T70s Silverstone piltane.jpg

Martin Brendan Birrane (19 August 1935 – 9 June 2018) was an Irish businessman and former racing driver. Born in Ballina, County Mayo and educated at St Muredach's College, Birrane made his money in property development, with his company Peer Group.

He was the owner of the Mondello Park racetrack in County Kildare, which is the only FIA 3 1/2 kilometre track in Ireland. It hosts domestic and international events.

He competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours ten times as a driver, winning the GT class in 1985. In 1990, he set the then Irish land speed record of {{convert|176|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on the then-unopened Westlink, now known as the M50, in Dublin.Irish Times, 9 November 1990 {{fcn|date=November 2021}}

Birrane owned Team Ireland, a NASCAR Winston Cup Series car racing team from 1991 to 1992.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xTgdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0aUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6089,331831&dq=martin-birrane+team-ireland&hl=en|title=Aiming High|last=Stout|first=Harold|date=3 May 1992|work=The Tuscaloosa News|page=C1|accessdate=2013-09-12|location=Tuscaloosa, AL}} He was the owner of racing car manufacturer Lola Cars from 1997 until the company was closed down in 2012. The Sunday Times Rich List 2011 valued his assets at €85 million.

Birrane died in June 2018 at the age of 82.{{cite news |title=Martin Birrane dies aged 82 |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2018/0611/969712-martin-birrane-dies-aged-82/ |accessdate=11 June 2018 |work=RTE.ie |date=11 June 2018 |language=en}}

Racing record

=Complete British Saloon Car Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! Car

! Class

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Pts

! Class

1968

! Martin Birrane

! Ford Falcon Sprint

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

| BRH

| THR

| SIL

| CRY

| MAL

| BRH

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SIL
13

| CRO

| OUL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH
NC

|

|

! NC

! 0

! NC

1969

! Martin Birrane

! Ford Falcon Sprint

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BRH
DNS

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
18

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNE
6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| THR
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CRY
Ret†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAL
Ret†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CRO
18

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| SIL
DNS

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|

! 21st

! 10

! 4th

1970

! Martin Birrane

! Ford Mustang

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

| BRH

| SNE

| THR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| CRY
DNS

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

| SIL

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| CRO
DNS

| BRH

| OUL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRH
2

|

! 31st

! 8

! 6th

1971

! Martin Birrane

! Ford Mustang Boss 302

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

| BRH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SNE
7

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| THR
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CRY
Ret†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
Ret

| CRO

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
4

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| OUL
4

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BRH
DNS

| MAL

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
4

|

! 23rd

! 10

! 6th

1972

! Cona Coffee Machine Company

! Ford Mustang Boss 302

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OUL
8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| THR
Ret

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CRY
8†

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| OUL
Ret

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
7

| MAL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

|

|

|

! 26th

! 10

! 6th

1973

! Martin Birrane

! Ford Mustang Boss 302

! {{Tooltip|D|Class D}}

| BRH

| SIL

| THR

| THR

| SIL

| ING

| BRH

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| SIL
DNS

| BRH

|

|

|

|

! NC

! 0

! NC

1974

! Adlards of Brixton

! Ford Capri 3000 GT

! {{Tooltip|C|Class C}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MAL
7†

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL
15

| OUL

| THR

| SIL

| THR

| BRH

| ING

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH
7†

| OUL

| SNE

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
Ret

! 22nd

! 15

! 6th

colspan="20"|{{center|{{small|Source:{{cite web |last1=de Jong |first1=Frank |title=British Saloon Car Championship |url=http://www.touringcarracing.net/Pages/BSCC.html |website=History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993 |access-date=10 November 2022}}}}}}

† Events with 2 races staged for the different classes.

=Complete World Sportscar Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Class

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Pts

rowspan=2| 1972

! Motor Racing Facilities

! GTS

! Datsun 240Z

! Datsun 2.4 L6

| BUE

| DAY

| SEB

| BRH

| MNZ

| SPA

| TAR

| NÜR

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| LMS
{{small|DNQ}}

| ÖST

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2 colspan=2|No drivers' Championship.

Alain de Cadenet

! S
3.0

! Duckhams LM

! Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GLN
{{small|Ret}}

|

|

|

|

1973

! Crowne Racing

! GT
3.0

! Porsche 911 Carrera RS

! Porsche 3.0 F6

| DAY

| VAL

| DIJ

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MNZ
{{small|DNQ}}

| SPA

| TAR

| NÜR

| LMS

| ÖST

| GLN

|

|

|

|

|

!colspan=2|

1974

! Escuderia Montjuich

! S
2.0

! Lola T294

! Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0 L4

| MNZ

| SPA

| NÜR

| IMO

| LMS

| ÖST

| GLN

| LEC

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|Ret}}

| KYA

|

|

|

|

|

!colspan=2|

1977

! Dorset Racing

! S
2.0

! Lola T294S

! Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0 L4

| DIJ

| MNZ

| VAL

| PER

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EST
{{small|NC}}

| LEC

| IMO

| SAL

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!colspan=2|In 1976 and 1977 the World Championship was divided into two series that ran simultaneously but separately: The World Sportscar Championship and the World Championship for Makes.

rowspan=2| 1980

! Frox Clothing Company Ltd.

! Gr.5

! Lotus Esprit S1

!rowspan=2| Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0 L4

| DAY

| BRH

| MUG

| MNZ

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| SIL
{{small|DNS}}

| NÜR

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2 colspan=2|

Dorset Racing Associates

! S
2.0

! Lola T297

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|22}}

| GLN

| MOS

| VAL

| DIJ

|

|

|

|

rowspan=2| 1981

!rowspan=2| Dorset Racing Associates

! S
+2.0

! De Cadenet-Lola LM

! Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8

| DAY

| SEB

| MUG

| MNZ

| RSD

| SIL

| NÜR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|Ret}}

| PER

| DAY

| GLN

| SPA

| MOS

| ROA

|

!rowspan=2| 157th

!rowspan=2| 16

S
2.0

! Lola T297

! Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0 L4

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH
{{small|7}}

1982

! Chevron Cars

! Gr.6

! Chevron B36

! Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0 L4

| MNZ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL
{{small|Ret}}

| NÜR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
{{small|16}}

| MUG

| FUJ

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|20}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

! NC

! 0

1983

! Peer Racing

! C

! Ford C100

! Cosworth DFL 3.3 V8

| MNZ

| SIL

| NÜR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|Ret}}

| SPA

| FUJ

| KYA

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

! NC

! 0

rowspan=3| 1985

! Helmut Gall

! B

! BMW M1

!rowspan=2| BMW M88 3.5 L6

| MUG

| MNZ

| SIL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|15}}

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=3| NC

!rowspan=3| 0

Jens Winther

!rowspan=2| C2

! URD C83

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC
{{small|14}}

| MOS

| SPA

| BRH

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

Barlett Chevron Racing

! Chevron B62

! Cosworth DFL 3.3 V8

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
{{small|Ret}}

| SHA

|

|

|

|

|

1986

! Martin Schanche Racing

! C2

! Argo JM19

! Zakspeed 1.8 L4t

| MNZ

| SIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|Ret}}

| NOR

| BRH

| JER

| NÜR

| SPA

| FUJ

|

|

|

|

|

|

! NC

! 0

rowspan=2| 1988

! PC Automotive

!rowspan=2| C2

! Argo JM19C

! Cosworth DFL 3.3 V8

| JER

| JAR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MNZ
{{small|Ret}}

| SIL

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2| NC

!rowspan=2| 0

Chamberlain Engineering

! Spice SE86C

! Hart 418T 1.8 L4t

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS
{{small|Ret}}

| BRN

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|Ret}}

| NÜR

| SPA

| FUJ

| SAN

|

|

|

|

;Footnotes:

{{Reflist|group=N}}

=Complete European F5000 Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Pts

1974

! Crowne Racing

! Brabham BT43

! Chevrolet 5.0 V8

| BRH

| MAL

| SIL

| OUL

| BRH

| ZOL

| THR

| ZAN

| MUG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MNZ
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| MAL
{{small|DNQ}}

| MON

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| THR
{{small|Ret}}

| BRH

| OUL

| SNE

| MAL

| BRH

! NC

! 0

=Complete Shellsport International Series results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Championship position}}

! Pts

rowspan=2| 1976

! David Price Racing

!rowspan=2| Chevron B29

! Ford BDA 1.6 L4

| MAL

| SNE

| OUL

| BRH

| THR

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| BRH
{{small|DNQ}}

| MAL

| SNE

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2| NC

!rowspan=2| 0

Martin Birrane

! Ford BDA Nicholson 1.6 L4

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|25}}

| THR

| OUL

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BRH
{{small|DNS}}

| BRH

|

1977

! Martin Birrane

! Chevron B29

! Ford BDA 1.6 L4

| MAL

| SNE

| OUL

| BRH

| MAL

| THR

| BRH

| OUL

| MAL

| DON

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH
{{small|Ret}}

| THR

| SNE

| BRH

! NC

! 0

=24 Hours of Le Mans results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Team

! Co-Drivers

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}

! {{Tooltip|Class
Pos.|Class Position}}

1972

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Motor Racing Facilities Ltd.

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Robert Grant
{{flagicon|BEL}} Sergé Troch

|align="left"| Datsun 240Z

| GTS

| -

| DNQ

| DNQ

1977

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ian Harrower
{{flagicon|NLD}} Ernst Berg
{{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Down

|align="left"| Lola T294S-Ford Cosworth

| S
2.0

| 212

| NC

| NC

1978

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Bob Evans
{{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Down

|align="left"| Lola T294S-Ford Cosworth

| S
2.0

| 23

| DNF

| DNF

1980

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Clarke
{{flagicon|GBR}} Nick Mason

|align="left"| Lola T297-Ford Cosworth

| S
2.0

| 263

| 22nd

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

1981

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Nick Faure
{{flagicon|IRL}} Vivian Candy

|align="left"| De Cadenet-Lola LM-Ford Cosworth

| S
+2.0

| 171

| DNF

| DNF

1982

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chevron Cars

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} John Sheldon
{{flagicon|AUS}} Neil Crang

|align="left"| Chevron B36-Ford Cosworth

| Gr.6

| 57

| DNF

| DNF

1983

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peer Racing

|align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault
{{flagicon|IRL}} David Kennedy

|align="left"| Ford C100

| C

| 16

| DNF

| DNF

1985

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Helmut Gall

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Edgar Dören
{{flagicon|BEL}} Jean-Paul Libert

|align="left"| BMW M1

| B

| 307

| 15th

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1986

|align="left"| {{flagicon|NOR}} Martin Schanche Racing

|align="left"| {{flagicon|NOR}} Martin Schanche
{{flagicon|NOR}} Torgye Kleppe

|align="left"| Argo JM19-Zakspeed

| C2

| 1

| DNF

| DNF

1988

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chamberlain Engineering

|align="left"| {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Jones
{{flagicon|GBR}} Nick Adams

|align="left"| Spice SE86C-Hart

| C2

| 223

| DNF

| DNF

colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Martin-Birrane-IRL.html|title=All Results of Martin Birrane|work=racingsportscars.com|accessdate=11 June 2018}}}}}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Racing-Reference driver|Martin_Birrane}}
  • {{Racing-Reference owner|Martin_Birrane}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birrane, Martin}}

Category:1935 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:20th-century Irish businesspeople

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:British Touring Car Championship drivers

Category:Irish racing drivers

Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Ballina, County Mayo

Category:Businesspeople from County Mayo

Category:Motorsport people from County Mayo